Fly Fishing Report 20th - 26th May 2007

Well this week saw the big change, on the lakes Trout started to target Damsels in both the nymph and adult form. Numbers have been increasing over the past two weeks and damsels are now everywhere, amazing when you consider this is four weeks early!

The other big change happened on the river. The trout have started to get full, bellies are bursting from the feast of mayfly, olives and midges. Yesterday trout were noticeable by there absence at the surface during the morning. PM and a few stragglers in the form of mayfly duns hatched and the odd spinner fluttered by, though in vastly reduced numbers. The trout however did react, almost sensing the end of a feast, trout grabed what they could the moment flies hit the surface!

I always see spring as ending with May, though June often provides similar fishing. This year Summer fishing is now very much here, the better fishing will start to swing toward afternoon and evening if the hot weather continues, and no doubt fishing will get more challenging as the water becomes a soup of trout food.

The easy fun fishing is coming to an end, now we can look forward to good fishing which requires that bit more thought, provides lessons and makes us better anglers if we chose to listen!

Tight Lines

Steve

Fly Fishing Report 13th-20th May 2007

This week's report should really be a Cotswold fly fishing report, as I've been guiding there all week other than our course yesterday at Willington. If recent weeks have produced excellent fishing, this week has been out of this world!

Five days on the river Coln produced more chalkstream wild brown trout than I can remember for clients, with several fish of 1-2lbs landed. We fished nothing other than dry fly from first thing in the morning to evening, such was the hatch activity of midge, olives and mayfly.

One day was spent guiding sight fishing at Watermark trout fishery, where Vic Burford had a truely dream day! He landed 5 trout over 4lbs topped by an excellent 8lb brownie and lost 3 other big fish while attempting to prevent them reaching the safety of overhanging tree branches. The water is in excellent condition with visibility of around 10 feet down.

Saturday took me to Willington for our nymph & dry fly course, which proved highly successfull, with several brown trout being landed on parachute adams, F fly and PTN despite rough conditions. There are plenty of trout actively feeding and good sport on both nymph and dry fly.

Tight Lines

Steve

Fly Fishing Report 5th-12th May 2007

Well the weather this week has been more like spring, but that has not stopped some excellent fishing.

Loynton has produced several good fish, the largest 24lb 7oz. Everyone seems to be fishing black flies at the moment, my advice is try something different if no one is catching!

Watermark is fishing amazingly well with some excellent brown trout to 5lbs+ being caught. The early season algal bloom has now cleared, so stalking big trout is now possible again.

Willington produced catches of up to 12 fish per angler for us this week on both buzzer and dries.

Carsington continues it's spring form, with buzzers and small nymphs taking plenty of fish. On rougher days swap the floater for an intermediate to improve presentation.

The river Coln has been amazing, buzzing with fly life and rising trout every day for most of the day. Mayfly have been coming off for the last 10 days but this weeks weather change has kept hatches low in number and the trout are still not 100% on them. Best flies are currently olives and midge patterns. Wild brownies to 1.5lb landed this week. As the trout target the mayfly, some bigger fish will be landed!

Other waters showing early mayfly action are Willington, Marton Heath, Bushyleaze, and river Leach.

Must wrap up now, busy day ahead!

Tight Lines

Steve

Fishing Report 25th April - 4th May

Another busy week on the guiding and tuition front, with plenty of fish to clients rods.

Carsington is fishing well to floating line tactics with small nymphs and buzzers. A new rainbow record was landed last week of 6lb 12oz. Nice to see more people on the water here this year and more new visitors booking our guide service here too!

Willington has again fished well to both buzzers and dry fly tactics with clients landing both grown on brown and rainbow trout to 5lbs. With plenty of fish cruising the margins we are having some great days stalking sighted trout with dries!

Loynton is producing some cracking fish, the odd slow day this week, but always opportunities to catch even on harder days. The rainbows are in prime condition and fighting like fish twice the size. Fish of the week around 16lbs.

More fun on the river Coln this week too, most days we only needed a dry fly. With ever increasing hatches the fish are well up on the surface, taking midge (some huge ones coming off the water too) olives and hawthorns of which their is now an abundance. A few Mayfly dates remaining so check out our chalkstream fishing and get in touch.

Cound fishery also producing excellent buzzer and dry fly fishing, plus several big rainbows. Fishing here much the same as Willington.

Tight Lines

Steve

12 Essential Flies for a Beginners Fly Box!

It's enough learning the basics of casting, watercraft and fly fishing technique when first tacking up fly fishing. Then you realise the choice you have to make over fly patterns you need in your box.

More than a little daunting to most! The good news is you don't need thousands of flies, in fact just twelve will do for over ninety percent of days. A great basic selection from which you can build, as your experience and knowledge of waters you fish increases. Check out our latest article 12 must have flies for beginners!

If you have any comments on the selection including your own choices, be sure to post them here for everyone to see!

Tight Lines

Steve